The Brooklyn Nets are back at the Barclays Center and will face the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. The 29-17 Nets are in second place in the East and the 23-24 Lakers are in eighth in the West.
Brooklyn is coming off a 135-126 loss to Minnesota on Sunday night. Kyrie Irving led the Nets with 30 points (11-of-20). Patty Mills was the second-leading scorer with 21 points (8-of-15).
Los Angeles lost to Miami, the first-place team in the East, on Sunday, 113-107. LeBron James scored a game-high 33 points (12-of-22) and had 11 rebounds. Russell Westbrook finished with 24 points (9-of-15), nine rebounds, and nine assists.
James Harden will be without both Kevin Durant and Irving against the Lakers. Harden scored 13 points (4-of-13) against the Timberwolves and after the game, he voiced his displeasure with the officiating.
He hasn’t been consistent this season, and even though the Lakers aren’t the team that people thought they would be, Harden’s going to need to have a big bounce-back game on Tuesday for Brooklyn to stand a chance.
The Nets will be without Durant (MCL), Joe Harris (ankle), David Duke Jr. (two-way), Paul Millsap (out), and Kyrie Irving (out). Nic Claxton (hamstring) is listed as questionable.
Anthony Davis (MCL) has been out for a month but is listed as probable for Los Angeles.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers betting odds, spread, over/under
According to WynnBET, the Lakers are the 3-point favorites over the Nets. Brooklyn is +127 on the moneyline and Los Angeles is at -155. The over/under for the game is set at 226.5 points.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers prediction
If the Nets were playing with their Big Three, the Lakers wouldn’t stand a chance. Brooklyn beat Los Angeles on Christmas Day with Harden, but given the Nets’ inability to play well at home and Davis’ return, the Lakers should be the ones to come up victorious in this matchup.
We’re taking the Lakers -3 and under 226.5 points.
Los Angeles 112, Brooklyn 103.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers TV channel
The Nets-Lakers game will be nationally broadcast on TNT as well as the local YES Network. The tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Brooklyn Nets schedule and upcoming games
Brooklyn will play its second half of a back-to-back tomorrow night at Barclays Center before traveling to the West Coast.
Jan. 26 vs. Denver
Jan. 29 at Golden State
Feb. 1 at Phoenix
Feb. 2 at Sacramento
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